Paul imhoff



' Saree l arrest PAUL IMHOFF, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED ALKALI COMPANY, LIMITED, OF SAME PLACE.

MANUFACTURE OF OXYHALOGEN SALTS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 627,063, dated June 13, 1899.

Application filed November 11, 1898.

T aZZ whom it may concern: V

Be it known that 1, PAUL IMHorF, P11. D., chemist, a subject of the German Emperor,

- and a resident of No. 18 Greenbank road,

7 tion it exerts.

Sefton Park, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster,= England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Oxyhalogen Salts, (for which I have'applied for a patent in Germany on the 28th day of March, 1895,) of which the followingis a specification.

In the manufacture of salts of the oxyhalogen acids-such as hypochlorites, ohlorates, and the like-by the electrolysis of alkaline or alkaline earth or magnesium chlorids in cells in which no diaphragm is employed secondary reactions leading to undesirable results are liable to occur.

The first action of the current in the electrolysis of the alkaline chlorid or other chlorid above referred to liberates at the cathode a certain quantity of the electronegative ion and at the anode an equivalent quantity of chlorin. The potassium ion liberated at the cathode when potassium chlorid is electrolyzed reacts, further, with the water present to form caustic potash, hydrogen being liberated at the same time. The hydrogen thus liberated at the cathode is in 'the nascent state, and on this accountit acts prejudicially on the ox'yhalogen salt in the neighborhood of the cathode by reason of the reducing ac- I have found that this reducing action may be avoided by adding to the Serial No. 696,134. (No specimens.)

solution certain inorganic oxidizing salts of the oxygen acids-such, for example, as potassium chromate. Ihave also found that these salts diminish the loss of current caused a considerably-increased yield may be obtained from a given quantity of current than was previously the case. The addition of such salt may be made with satisfactory results to either a neutral or alkaline electrolyte.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and in whatmanner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is- In the electrolysis of alkaline chlorids, alkaline-earth chlorids and chlorid of magnesium without a diaphragm, in neutral or in alkaline solution for the production of oxyhalogen salts, the improvement consistingin adding to the bath inorganic oxidizing-salts of theoxygen acids, thereby effecting a diminution in the reduction brought about by nascent hylrogen and a diminution of the decomposition of water and passing through such bath in electric current, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL IMIIOFF.

Witnesses FREDERICK J'AMns HAWKINS, ALFRED Parcnn'rr. 4

by the decom position of water. lly this means 

